Ratchet wheel step-up device



April 1949- B. w. WlLLl AMS 2,467,574

RATCHET WHEEL STEFUP DEVICE Filed May 22, 1948 3? 23 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Apr. 19, 1949 RATCHET WHEEL STEP-UP DEVICE Bradlee W. Williams,Chicago, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Williams Patent Corporation, a corporation ofIllinois Application May 22, 1948, Serial No. 28,675

Claims. 1

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ratchetwheel step-up devices and has for its principal object the provision ofan improved construction of this character which will be highlyefficient in use and economical in manufacture.

Among the several important objects of the invention is to provide anarrangement to permit the ratchet wheel to return to a starting or zeroposition.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a step-up device embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a releasing arm embodied in theinvention;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. l and;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts inposition to permit the ratchet wheel to return to starting or zeroposition.

The several objects of my invention are accomplished by the preferredform of construction shown in the accompanying drawings. In suchdrawings, I have illustrated a mountin plate Ill have a lateral flangeII which facilitates attaching the plate to a suitable support (notshown).

This plate Ill adjacent its lower end portion carries a magnetic coil I2including a solenoid plunger l3. This plunger I3 is limited in itsoutward movement from within the coil 12 by an adjustable screw I4carried by a bracket 15 secured to the plate Ill by spot welding or thelike.

Carried by the plate It! is a pintle l6. Pivotally carried by thispintle IE is an arm ll. One end portion of the arm I! is pivotallyconnected as at l8 to the plunger l3. Carried by the opposite endportion of the arm I! is a step-up pawl l9. This step-up pawl 19 ispivotally connected to the arm H as at 20. The pawl l9 normally engagesthe teeth 2| of a ratchet wheel 22.

The plate ill carries a lateral shaft 23. Pivotally carried by thisshaft 23 is a holdingdog 24 which normally engages the teeth 2| of theratchet wheel 22 to hold the ratchet against retroactive movement in adirection opposite to the movement of the ratchet wheel by the stepuppawl 19.

This holding dog 24 has an extension 25 which 2 is adapted to engagebeneath a finger 26 provided by the pawl 19 for reasons hereinafter moreapparent. The holding dog 24 has an extension 21 which is pivotallyconnected as at 28 to a solenoid plunger 29 of a coil 3!]. This coil 30is mounted on the plate ill.

Pivotally mounted on the shaft 23 is an escapement dog 3|. Thisescapement dog 3| has an extended portion 32 which is adapted to engagebeneath the holding dog 24 to limit the pivotal movement of theescapement dog by the action of a spring 33 connected to the escapementdog as at 34 and to the pintle providing the connection between theextension 21 of the dog 24 and the plunger 29.

A spring 35 yieldably holds the step-up pawl l3 in engagement with theteeth 2| of the ratchet wheel 22.

A lateral finger 36 is provided by the plate 10 and to this finger isattached one end portion of a spring 31. The opposite end portion of thespring 3'! is connected to the arm I! and normally holds the plunger [3in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The escapement dog 3| has connected thereto as at 38 one end portion 39of a release arm 40. This arm 40 provides a loop M which embraces a pin42 carried by the arm H, the opposite portions 43 of this loop engagingin parallel grooves 44 formed in the pin 42.

Struck from the plate [0 is a stop finger 45 which cooperates with astop pin 46 carried by the ratchet wheel 22. When this pin 46 is inbearing engagement with the finger 45, the ratchet wheel 22 is instarting or zero position.

To complete the invention, there is arranged upon the driven shaft 41 towhich the ratchet wheel 22 is secured, a coil spring 48 one end of whichis attached by the loop 49 to the pintle I6 and the opposite end to theshaft 41 as at 49'.

The driven shaft 41 may be connected to any suitable element to bedriven thereby.

As heretofore stated, my invention has to do with returning the ratchetwheel 22 back to a starting or zero position, which position isdetermined by the engagement of the pin 43 with the stop finger 45.

Each time the coil I2 is energized, the arm ll through the operation ofthe plunger I3 is pivoted to move the step-up pawl [9 in a direction torotate the ratchet wheel 22 against the action of the spring 48, theholding dog 24 serving to hold the ratchet wheel against retroactivemovement.

Each time the coil 30 is energized, the escapeagainst the action ofmeans for pivotally moving said arm, a holding;

ment dog 3| is brought into engagement with the ratchet wheel 22 tocooperate with the holding dog 24 to permit the ratchet wheel 22 torotate step by step under the action of the spring 48. When the plunger29 moves within the coil 30, the holding dog 24 is moved in a clockwisedirection bringing the extension 25 beneath the finger 25 to release thestep-up pawl I9 from engagement with the ratchet'wheel 22 to permit thislast-stated movement of the ratchet wheel.

The operation of returning the ratchet wheel to zero or startingposition is accomplished by the joint energization of both ofthe coilsl2 and 30. When this takes place','th'e arrn:l'! is: pivoted in ananticlockwise direction. This pivotal movement of the arm I! bears thepin 42 against'the end of the loop M to hold the escapement'dog frommovement of the plunger 29 within the coil 30.

The position of the parts, when both coils l2 and 30 are energized, isillustrated in'Fig. 4. In '"such'position of the parts, the pawl, theholding dog,- and theescapement dog are disengaged from the ratchetwheel 22 when the ratchet Wheel has returned, by action of the spring48, from its zero position.

During the advance step-up of the ratchet wheel 22 by the step-up pawlE9, the pin 42 will move within the loop 4| but inasmuch as the holdingdog is in engagement with the ratchet wheel 22 such wheel cannot rotatein an anticlockwise direction during this advance movement of theratchet wheel 22.

By the foregoing construction, a simple and effective means is providedfor resetting the ratchet wheel 22 to starting or zero position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a step-up mechanism having a ratchet wheel, aspring for urging ro--- tation of the ratchet wheel in one direction, apivoted arm, a pawl pivotally carried by the arm for advancing theratchet wheel step by step said spring, magnetic dog for holding thewheel against rotation by said spring, an escapement dog for the wheel,

the holding dog and pawl having interengageable parts for simultaneousdisengagement'from the ratchet Wheel, magnetic means for moving;

the holding dog to simultaneously disengage the pawl and holding dogfrom the wheel "by, themtion of said interengageable parts, of a memberproviding a connection between the escapement dog and the arm foreffecting pivotalmovement of the escapement dog from engagement with thewheel upon pivotal movement of the pawl and the holding dog fromengagement with the wheel to permit rotation of the wheel under actionof said spring.

2. The combination with a step-up-mechanism having a ratchet Wheel, aspring for urging rotation of the ratchet wheel in one-direction, apivoted arm, a pawl pivotally carried by the arm for advancing theratchet wheel step by -step loop. upon pivotal movement of said arm inone direction by said first-mentioned magnetic means to pivot'theescapement dog from engagement with the ratchet wheel upon simultaneouspivotal movement of the pawl and holding do from engagement with theratchet wheel by said second-mentioned magnetic means.

3. The combination with a step-up mechanism having a ratchet wheel, aspring for urgingrotation of the ratchet wheel in one direction,uapivoted arm, a pawl pivotally carried by the arm ,for advancing theratchet wheel step by step against the action of said spring, magneticmeans for pivotally moving said arm, a holding dog for holding the wheelagainstrotation by said-springan escapement dog for the wheel, theholdin dog and pawl having interengageable parts for simultaneousdisengagement from theratchet wheel, magnetic means for moving theholding dog to simultaneously disengage the pawl and holding dog fromthe wheelby action of saidinterengageable parts, of awire member havingone endportion provided with an elong-ated'loop, and a pin carried bysaid arm and movable within said loop to engage the end of the loop uponpivotal movement of said arm in one direction by said first-mentionedmagnetic means to pivot the escapement dog from engagement with theratchet wheel upon simultaneous' pivotal movement of the pawl andholding dog from engagement with the ratchet wheel by saidsecond-mentioned magneticmeans.

4. The combination with a step-up mechanism having a ratchet wheel, asprin for urging rotation of the ratchet wheel in one direction, apivoted arm; a pawl pivotally carried by the arm foradvancing' theratchet wheel step by step against the action of said spring, magneticmeans for pivotally moving said arm, a holding dog for holding the wheelagainst rotation by said'spring, an escapement dog for the wheel,theholding dog and pawl having interengageable partsfor simultaneousdisengagement from the ratchet wheel, magnetic means for movingthe-holding dog to simultaneously disengage the pawl and-holdingdogfrom'the wheel by action of-said interengageable parts, of a memberhaving'one end portion provided'with an elongated loop, an elementcarried by said arm and movable within said'loop' to engage the end ofthe loop upon pivotal movement of said arm in one direction by saidfirst-mentioned magnetic means to pivot the escapement dog fromengagement with the ratchet wheel upon simultaneous pivotal movement ofthe pawl andholding dog from engagement with the ratchet wheel by saidsecond-mentioned magnetic means, said element being provided withopposite grooves, and opposits portions of said member providing saidloop being slidablyretained'in said grooves.

5. The-combination with a step-up mechanism in which there is a ratchetwheel, a spring for urgin'grrotation of the-ratchetwheel in one di- 5rection, a pivoted arm, a pawl pivotally carried by the arm foradvancing the ratchet wheel step by step against the action of saidspring, magnetic means for pivotally moving said arm, a holding dog forholding the wheel against rotation by said spring, an escapement dog forthe wheel, the holding dog and pawl having interengageable parts forsimultaneous disengagement from the ratchet wheel, magnetic means formoving the holding dog to simultaneously disengage the pawl and holdingdog from the wheel by action of said interengageable parts, of a memberhaving one end portion provided with an elongated loop, and a pincarried by said arm and movable within said loop to engage the end ofthe loop upon pivotal movement of said arm in one direction by saidfirst-mentioned mag- 6 netic means to pivot the escapement dog fromengagement with the ratchet wheel upon simultaneous pivotal movement ofthe pawl and holding dog from engagement with the ratchet wheel by saidsecond-mentioned magnetic means, said pin bein provided with oppositegrooves, and opposite portions of said member providing said loop beingslida-bly retained in said grooves.

BRADLEE W. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Breitenstein Apr. 28,1942 Number

